The Grammy Awards announced the nominations for their 52nd annual event during a special primetime concert Wednesday night, held at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and broadcast live on CBS.
Between industry-wank performances by the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell, Sugarland, host LL Cool J and Nick Jonas' new band, the Administration, presenters (including George Lopez, Katy Perry and... Ringo Starr.) read off the nominees in all major categories.
Come on, guys - I know times are tough in the industry, but this is Los Angeles we're talking about. Is Sugarland and Nick Jonas really the best the Grammys can do? I suppose so, given the utterly dismal list of nominees this year, but did you really need to rub it in with an LL Cool J rap to open the show?
Lady GaGa may not be eligible for the Best New Artist award due to a technicality, but she'll conted for Album of the Year with Beyoncé, who led all nominees with 10 nods, and Taylor Swift, who received eight nominations. The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West and Maxwell each received six. Yawn.
Below are the nominees for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, taking place Sunday, Jan. 31 in Los Angeles and broadcasting live on CBS.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Beyonce - "Single Ladies"
Lady Gaga - "Poker Face"
Maxwell - "Pretty Wings"
Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody"
Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me."
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beyonce - "I Am ... Sasha Fierce"
Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D."
Lady Gaga - "The Fame"
Taylor Swift - "Fearless"
Dave Matthews Band - "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King."
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Beyonce - "Halo"
Black Eyes Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"
Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody"
Lady Gaga - "Poker Face"
Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"
BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
Brooks & Dunn - "Cowgirls Don't Cry"
Zac Brown Band - "Chicken Fried"
Lady Antebellum - "I Run To You"
Rascal Flatts "Here Comes Goodbye"
Sugarland - "It Happens"
BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Drake - "Best I Ever Had"
Eminem - "Beautiful"
Jay-Z - "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite"
Mos Def - "Casa Bey."
BEST ROCK ALBUM
AC/DC - "Black Ice"
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood - "Life from Madison Square Garden"
Green Day - "21st Century Breakdown"
Dave Matthews Band - "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King"
U2 - "No Line on the Horizon."
BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling"
Bon Jovi - "We Weren't Born to Follow"
The Fray - "Never Say Never"
Daryl Hall and John Oates' "Sara Smile"
MGMT - "Kids"
